FTX: Prosecutors ask judge to restrict communication between SBF and witnesses

• Prosecutors have asked the judge overseeing SBF’s case to restrict communication between him and employees of FTX.
• SBF reportedly contacted the General Counsel of FTX in an attempt to influence his testimony.

Federal prosecutors overseeing the criminal case against Sam Bankman-Fried have alleged that the disgraced FTX executive attempted to contact a current FTX employee in order to influence them. The employee is a witness who may be called upon to testify. 

New bail conditions for SBF

According to a court filing by Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried contacted Ryne Miller, the current General Counsel of FTX US.

The messages were sent over email and Signal, an encrypted messaging application. 

“I would really love to reconnect and see if there’s a way for us to have a constructive relationship, use each other as resources when possible, or at least vet things with each other,” Bankman-Fried said in his messages to the FTX U.S. employee. 

The U.S. Attorney’s office revealed that SBF had also contacted other current and former employees of the bankrupt crypto exchange. The prosecutors believe that his attempt to contact the employees is suggestive of an effort to influence their potential testimony.

This comes as a matter of concern for the prosecutors since SBF reportedly knows that the witness has information that would inculpate him. 

Ban on communication between SBF and witnesses

The prosecutors have asked Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing the criminal case against SBF, to alter the conditions of the disgraced CEO’s bail.

They’ve asked for a ban on communication between him and former or current FTX employees, using Signal or any other encrypted messaging applications. 

Bankman-Fried is currently out on a $250 million bond and is residing with his parents in California. He is facing multiple criminal charges including fraud, money laundering, and campaign finance violations.

FTX’s financial advisor recently released a creditor list that provided insight into the lavish and reckless spending that the exchange’s management engaged in.